Small Engine Applications Research Articles

To Study the Mechanical Properties of Slag and Fly Ash Reinforced As 2024 Composites

Metal matrix composites (MMCs) possess significantly improved properties compared to unreinforced alloys. There has been an increasing interest in composites containing low density and low cost reinforcements. In view of the generation of large quantities of solid waste by products like fly ash and slags, the present study is discarded, new methods for treating and using these solid wastes are required. Hence, composites with fly ash and Granulated blast furnace slag as reinforcements are likely to overcome the cost barrier for wide spread applications in automotive and small engine applications. In the present investigation, AA 2024 alloy – 5 wt. % fly ash and slag composites separately were made by stir casting route. Phase identification and structural characterization were carried out on fly ash and GBF slag by X-ray diffraction studies.The hardness and compression tests were carried out on all these alloy and composites. The reinforcement Improved hardness and mechanical properties were observed for both the composites compared to alloy; this increase is higher for AA2024-Fly ash composite than AA2024- Granulated blast furnace slag composite.

Investigation of appropriateness of coated steel piston for aluminium alloy piston for small engines

ABSTRACT Materials substitution is an imperative research area. The aim of this research is cost reduction, improved performance on its physical, chemical or mechanical properties like improved strength, reduced weight or in terms of performances. The objective of this paper is to investigate the possibilities to use the steel piston in place of the aluminium alloy piston for small engine applications like portable generator. Aluminium alloy piston, uncoated steel piston, nickel-coated steel piston and hard chrome-coated steel piston are considered. Steel pistons plated had standard thickness and were physically experimented. The thermal analysis like thermal deformation, total and directional heat flux analysis were carried out in ANSYS software. For the outperformed piston, the CFD analyses on contoured particles were carried out with help of ANSYS Fluent software. The CFD analysis on contoured particles includes the static pressure, velocity as well as directional velocity components and path line of contoured particles.

Processing and Characterization of Aluminum Metal Matrix Composites: An Overview

Abstract An increased interest is observed in recent years in the processing of aluminum metal matrix composites (AMMCs) due to their remarkable properties such as light in weight, very high strength, environmental resistance, corrosion resistance, and low thermal coefficient of expansion compared to conventional metal and alloys. This leads to superior compressive strength, for fuel cell applications, low density and low cost for automotive and small engine applications. Homogeneous distribution of the reinforcement phase in turns improves hardness and ultimate tensile strength for lightweight applications, especially aeronautical and high-speed train industries. Uniform distribution of reinforcement directly influences properties and quality of the composite material. And develop a conventional low-cost method of producing metal matrix composites to obtain a homogenous dispersion of reinforcing materials. In this review article, processing and characterization of aluminum metal matrix composites have been reviewed. The Point of convergence is given to the new fabrication techniques, their physical and mechanical characterization. Substantially this review article censoriously reviews the present and past state of understanding of the processing of aluminum metal matrix composites with different reinforcement. The resulting failure mechanisms are discussed. Instructions are given to clarify open questions related to the fabrications of aluminum metal matrix composites.

Effect on Aluminium Metal Matrix Composite Reinforced with Nano Sized Silica Particles

In recent times, it could be observed that metal matrix composites receive considerable importance on account of improved properties compared to unreinforced alloys which includes high specific strength, specific modulus, damping capacity and good wear resistance. Interest in composites containing low density and low cost reinforcements has been since growing. Among various discontinuous particulate, silica is one of the most inexpensive and low density reinforcement available in large quantities. Hence, composites with aluminium oxide as reinforcement after the in-situ reaction of aluminium and silica are likely to overcome the cost barrier for wide spread applications in automotive and small engine applications. It is therefore expected that the incorporation of aluminium oxide particles in aluminium alloy will improve the mechanical properties of base material that will see increased usage in aircraft application due to reduced weight. In this research an effect on aluminum matrix composite reinforced with nano sized silica particles with different weight percentage was carried out. From the results it was found that the composites with 4 to 6wt% particle volume fraction to be the best with good tensile strength, yield stress and percentage elongation.

Comparative Studies on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Granulated Blast Furnace Slag and Fly Ash Reinforced AA 2024 Composites

Composites are most promising materials of recent interest. Metal matrix composites (MMCs) possess significantly improved properties compared to unreinforced alloys. There has been an increasing interest in composites containing low density and low cost reinforcements. In view of the generation of large quantities of solid waste by products like fly ash and slags, the present expensive manner in which it is discarded, new methods for treating and using these solid wastes are required. Hence, composites with fly ash and granulated blast furnace (GBF) slag as reinforcements are likely to overcome the cost barrier for wide spread applications in automotive and small engine applications. In the present investigation, AA 2024 alloy-5 wt% fly ash and GBF slag composites separately were made by stir casting route. Phase identification and structural characterization were carried out on fly ash and GBF slag by X-ray diffraction studies. Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy EDS was used for microstructure analysis. The hardness and compression tests were carried out on all these alloy and composites. The SEM studies reveal that there was a uniform distribution of fly ash and GBF slag particles in the matrix phase and also very good bonding existed between the matrix and reinforcement. Improved hardness and mechanical properties were observed for both the composites compared to alloy; this increase is higher for Al-fly ash composite than Al-GBF slag composite.

Experimental Investigations of Silicon Carbide - Fly Ash Reinforced Aluminium Metal Matrix Composite

Metal matrix composites are used mostly in space ships, aerospace, automotive, nuclear bio technology, electronic and sporting goods industries, but due to their high cost, experiments are usually done to reduce the cost of composites and inexpensive materials are utilized for metal matrix composites. Fly Ash is one of the most inexpensive and low density reinforcement available in large quantities as solid waste by product during combustion of coal in thermal power plants. So, composites with Fly Ash can be used to reduce the cost of the metal matrix for applications in automotive and small engine applications. It is therefore expected that the incorporation of Fly Ash particles in Aluminium alloy will promote yet another use of this low cost waste by product and at the same time has the potential for conserving energy intensive Aluminium and thereby, reducing the cost of Aluminium products. In this investigation, 10% SiC particles reinforced Al-MMC was prepared using stir casting method. The ratio of Hardness with respect to the weight fraction on the specimen was prepared. The various mechanical test via hardness & tensile test are taken to analyze the properties .The microstructure of Al-MMC’s were studied in SEM microstructure.

Mechanical properties and corrosion behaviour of fly ash particles reinforced AA 2024 composites

Composites are most promising materials of recent interest. Metal matrix composites (MMCs) possess significantly improved properties compared to unreinforced alloys. There has been an increasing interest in composites containing low density and low cost reinforcements. Hence, composites with fly ash as reinforcement are likely to over come thecost barrier for wide spread applications in automotive and small engine applications. In the present investigation, AA 2024 alloy – 2 to 10 wt% fly ash composites were made by stir casting route. Phase identification and structural characterization was carried out on fly ash by X-ray diffraction studies. Scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy was used for microstructure analysis. The hardness, compression and pitting corrosion tests were carried out on all these alloy and composites. The SEM studies reveal that there was a uniform distribution of fly ash particles in the matrix phase and also very good bonding is exist between the matrix and reinforcement. With increasing the amount of fly ash the density of the composites was decreased and the hardness was increased. The increase in compression strength was observed with increase in amount of fly ash. Fly ash particles lead to an enhanced pitting corrosion of the aluminium–fly ash (ALFA) composites in comparison with unreinforced matrix (AA 2024 alloy). The enhanced pitting corrosion of ALFA composites is associated with the introduction of nobler second phase of fly ash particles.

Development of Light Weight AA2024 Alpha Composites

Composites are most promising materials of recent interest. Metal matrix composites (MMCs) possess significantly improved properties compared to unreinforced alloys. There has been an increasing interest in composites containing low density and low cost reinforcements. Hence, composites with fly ash as reinforcement are likely to over come the cost barrier for wide spread applications in automotive and small engine applications. AA 2024 alloy – 2 to 10% (by weight) fly ash composites were made by stir casting route. Phase identification and structural characterization was carried out on fly ash by X-ray diffraction studies. Scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy was used for microstructure analysis. The hardness, density and compression tests were carried out on all these alloy and composites. The SEM studies reveal that there was a uniform distribution of fly ash particles in the matrix phase and also very good bonding exists between the matrix and reinforcement. With increasing the amount of fly ash the density of the composites was decreased and the hardness was increased. The increase in compression strength was observed with increase in amount of fly ash.

Interrelation of creep and relaxation for nonlinearly viscoelastic materials: application to ligament and metal

Creep and stress relaxation are known to be interrelated in linearly viscoelastic materials by an exact analytical expression. In this article, analytical interrelations are derived for nonlinearly viscoelastic materials which obey a single integral nonlinear superposition constitutive equation. The kernel is not assumed to be separable as a product of strain and time dependent parts. Superposition is fully taken into account within the single integral formulation used. Specific formulations based on power law time dependence and truncated expansions are developed. These are appropriate for weak stress and strain dependence. The interrelated constitutive formulation is applied to ligaments, in which stiffness increases with strain, stress relaxation proceeds faster than creep, and rate of creep is a function of stress and rate of relaxation is a function of strain. An interrelation was also constructed for a commercial die-cast aluminum alloy currently used in small engine applications.

Review of propulsion applications and numerical simulations of the pulsed detonation engine concept

Here we review experimental and computational studies of the pulsed detonation engine concept (PDEC) and present results of our recent numerical study of this concept. The PDEC was proposed in the early 1940s for small engine applications; however, its potential was never realized due to a complicated, unsteady operation regime. In this study, we demonstrate the use of current advances in numerical simulation for the analysis of the PDEC. The high-thrust/engine volume ratio obtained in our simulations demonstrates promising potential of the pulsed detonation engine concept.